Standings
1) Wisconsin - Pains me to pick these guys here. Return nearly everyone and are solid in every area of the game. I think they win the B1G because they will be the most consistent team, and for once they will have quality depth. Potter was really taking off late in the season last year. Could be a dark horse All-B1G candidate
2) Illinois - The return of Dosunmu and Cockbrun gives the Illini two legit All-1st Team B1G players. Two blue chip recruits in Miller and Curbelo plus transfers Grandison and Hutcherson could give the Illini the best backcourt in the B1G. Team lacks 3pt shooters although Hutcherson and Grandison could improve this area. Unless Giorgi can figure out the 4, the team lacks a quality 4 in a league where the 4 has a lot of top quality.
3) MSU - Watts, Henry, and Hauser will be the power of this team. If they take that next step forward this season and tap into their elite talent MSU will be hard to stop. Then you get to the glue guys of Bingham, Hall and Brown who all do the little things well but have the talent to take big strides this year too. Add in Langford and two stud frosh in Hoggard and Sissoko and this team is loaded with talent and depth. If they reach 75% of their potential this year they will finish top 4. Anything above that and they will be contending for the B1G title.
4) Iowa - Iowa is loaded. Could be the most loaded Iowa team in over 20-30 years. However I see Iowa as a tournament team. I think the odds of them winning the B1G tourney, and/or making it to the Elite 8 or Final 4 are greater than them winning the regular season title in the B1G. Because of their defense I think consistency will be a problem. When they are hitting on all cylinders however they can beat anyone in the country. If the NCAA tournament is played at one site this will greatly benefit this team. All they need to do is get into a rhythm at the right time and watch out.
5) Michigan - I think some are sleeping on this team. Wagner and Livers are two of the B1G's top 10 players Wagner was heating up late in the season and his 3pt shot was falling down. If he continues that into this season and Livers picks up where he left off this is the B1G's best 3, 4 combo. Word is Brooks has upped his game and is poised to improve on his impressive JR year. Newcomers Smith, Jackson, Dickinson and Brown are some talented players that just need to be role players. Nunez, Johns, and Davis are quality returning vets.
6) Rutgers - Team has some nice returning pieces in Baker, Harper, Johnson, Mathis and Young. Depth could be a concern. Outside of Johnson the post could be a problem in a league where the top teams have a lot of quality. Team lacks consistent outside shooters.
7) Ohio St - A lot of ifs and buts on this team without the major talent of another if and but team like MSU. They have a great core and two quality transfers in Towns and Sueing. Add in two quality SO's that could have breakouts in Liddell and Diallo with veterans Walker, Washington, Young and Jallow and this looks like a complete team. However a lot has to go right for this team to do better than 7th while at the same time if players fail to take the next step and an injury to a main player (a lot of injury concerns going in) this team could fall.
8) Indiana - I consider them one of two mid level surprise teams in the B1G this year that will make the B1G easily the best conference in the nation. Indiana needed a player like Lander last season. This is projection but Lander will be the perfect compliment to Jackson-Davis. The coaches plan on using Jackson-Davis away from the basket more this season. The pick and roll of Lander/Jackson-Davis could be unstoppable and could finally open up a once very restricted Indiana offense. Look for this to help a quietly effective player in Durham as well.
9) Minnesota - That takes me to my next surprise mid level team that will be knocking on the selection committees door. The Gophers got some good news when Robbins was declared eligible. They then received another batch of good news a few weeks ago when Gach was deemed eligible. That gives the Gophers a solid 3 and 5 in their starting lineup. Carr has NBA talent if he shoots better. Kalscheur needs to overcome his SO slump and get his numbers back to his FR year when he shot 41% from 3. Ihnen will be a breakout player in the B1G this year. Johnson and Mashburn are newcomers that will add quality depth.
10) Purdue - Solid defending team and have some quality young talent. However I'm not sold on them like others are. They lack star talent, are not a good shooting team and overall depth is just ok.
11) Maryland - Not sold on this team either. Ayala, Morsell, and Wiggins sound like big names. However none of them are good outside shooters. Morsell is great inside the arc but Ayala and Wiggins are very inconsistent all over the court. This team can defend but can their stale offense keep up with a loaded B1G? Scott could be a breakout player.
12) Penn St - Feel for this team. Last year was their dream season and then the post-season was canceled. Simple put they lost too much and while they might be one of the better bottom division teams in college basketball the B1G is just too loaded.
13) Nebraska - Well they hired on another batch of deadly mercenaries but we saw that script last year and know the outcome. Hoiberg is building something it's just not this year.
14) Northwestern - This team has talent that in most leagues wouldn't land them in the basement. B1G is just too loaded.
1st Team All B1G
Dosunmu - Illinois
Watts - MSU
Jackson-Davis - Indiana
Garza - Iowa
Cockburn - Illinois
2nd Team All B1G
Carr - Minnesota
Wieskamp - Iowa
Henry - MSU
Wagner -Michigan
Williams -Purdue
3rd Team All B1G
Trice - Wisconsin
Baker- Rutgers
Livers - Michigan
Potter - Wisconsin
Reuvers - Wisconsin
1) Wisconsin - Pains me to pick these guys here. Return nearly everyone and are solid in every area of the game. I think they win the B1G because they will be the most consistent team, and for once they will have quality depth. Potter was really taking off late in the season last year. Could be a dark horse All-B1G candidate
2) Illinois - The return of Dosunmu and Cockbrun gives the Illini two legit All-1st Team B1G players. Two blue chip recruits in Miller and Curbelo plus transfers Grandison and Hutcherson could give the Illini the best backcourt in the B1G. Team lacks 3pt shooters although Hutcherson and Grandison could improve this area. Unless Giorgi can figure out the 4, the team lacks a quality 4 in a league where the 4 has a lot of top quality.
3) MSU - Watts, Henry, and Hauser will be the power of this team. If they take that next step forward this season and tap into their elite talent MSU will be hard to stop. Then you get to the glue guys of Bingham, Hall and Brown who all do the little things well but have the talent to take big strides this year too. Add in Langford and two stud frosh in Hoggard and Sissoko and this team is loaded with talent and depth. If they reach 75% of their potential this year they will finish top 4. Anything above that and they will be contending for the B1G title.
4) Iowa - Iowa is loaded. Could be the most loaded Iowa team in over 20-30 years. However I see Iowa as a tournament team. I think the odds of them winning the B1G tourney, and/or making it to the Elite 8 or Final 4 are greater than them winning the regular season title in the B1G. Because of their defense I think consistency will be a problem. When they are hitting on all cylinders however they can beat anyone in the country. If the NCAA tournament is played at one site this will greatly benefit this team. All they need to do is get into a rhythm at the right time and watch out.
5) Michigan - I think some are sleeping on this team. Wagner and Livers are two of the B1G's top 10 players Wagner was heating up late in the season and his 3pt shot was falling down. If he continues that into this season and Livers picks up where he left off this is the B1G's best 3, 4 combo. Word is Brooks has upped his game and is poised to improve on his impressive JR year. Newcomers Smith, Jackson, Dickinson and Brown are some talented players that just need to be role players. Nunez, Johns, and Davis are quality returning vets.
6) Rutgers - Team has some nice returning pieces in Baker, Harper, Johnson, Mathis and Young. Depth could be a concern. Outside of Johnson the post could be a problem in a league where the top teams have a lot of quality. Team lacks consistent outside shooters.
7) Ohio St - A lot of ifs and buts on this team without the major talent of another if and but team like MSU. They have a great core and two quality transfers in Towns and Sueing. Add in two quality SO's that could have breakouts in Liddell and Diallo with veterans Walker, Washington, Young and Jallow and this looks like a complete team. However a lot has to go right for this team to do better than 7th while at the same time if players fail to take the next step and an injury to a main player (a lot of injury concerns going in) this team could fall.
8) Indiana - I consider them one of two mid level surprise teams in the B1G this year that will make the B1G easily the best conference in the nation. Indiana needed a player like Lander last season. This is projection but Lander will be the perfect compliment to Jackson-Davis. The coaches plan on using Jackson-Davis away from the basket more this season. The pick and roll of Lander/Jackson-Davis could be unstoppable and could finally open up a once very restricted Indiana offense. Look for this to help a quietly effective player in Durham as well.
9) Minnesota - That takes me to my next surprise mid level team that will be knocking on the selection committees door. The Gophers got some good news when Robbins was declared eligible. They then received another batch of good news a few weeks ago when Gach was deemed eligible. That gives the Gophers a solid 3 and 5 in their starting lineup. Carr has NBA talent if he shoots better. Kalscheur needs to overcome his SO slump and get his numbers back to his FR year when he shot 41% from 3. Ihnen will be a breakout player in the B1G this year. Johnson and Mashburn are newcomers that will add quality depth.
10) Purdue - Solid defending team and have some quality young talent. However I'm not sold on them like others are. They lack star talent, are not a good shooting team and overall depth is just ok.
11) Maryland - Not sold on this team either. Ayala, Morsell, and Wiggins sound like big names. However none of them are good outside shooters. Morsell is great inside the arc but Ayala and Wiggins are very inconsistent all over the court. This team can defend but can their stale offense keep up with a loaded B1G? Scott could be a breakout player.
12) Penn St - Feel for this team. Last year was their dream season and then the post-season was canceled. Simple put they lost too much and while they might be one of the better bottom division teams in college basketball the B1G is just too loaded.
13) Nebraska - Well they hired on another batch of deadly mercenaries but we saw that script last year and know the outcome. Hoiberg is building something it's just not this year.
14) Northwestern - This team has talent that in most leagues wouldn't land them in the basement. B1G is just too loaded.
1st Team All B1G
Dosunmu - Illinois
Watts - MSU
Jackson-Davis - Indiana
Garza - Iowa
Cockburn - Illinois
2nd Team All B1G
Carr - Minnesota
Wieskamp - Iowa
Henry - MSU
Wagner -Michigan
Williams -Purdue
3rd Team All B1G
Trice - Wisconsin
Baker- Rutgers
Livers - Michigan
Potter - Wisconsin
Reuvers - Wisconsin
